Kolkata’s bursts into a frenzy of celebrations as the New Year’s Eve approaches. This city of trams becomes a hub for cultural activities as the year draws to a close. The city’s liveliest celebrations take place in Park Street.

Part of the colonial section of the city, Park Street has numerous cafés, bakeries and clubs, housed in buildings dating from the British era. The famous Flury’s bakes a variety of mouth-watering cakes in this season. Come and have your pick. Christmas, cakes and carols go hand-in-hand. St. Paul’s Church and St. John’sCathedral hold carol recitals throughout the month to celebrate the birth of Christ.

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9- 22 °C

Light jackets for chilly evenings

Gariahat, Park Street, New Market

The City of Joy is a Mecca for music lovers. Alongwith the folk Baul performers, the city whole-heartedly embraces the rock culture. The year-end sees a lot of bands converge to Kolkata. Musicians travel from all over the North-east and Assam to perform in the city’s pubs. Someplace Else in Park Street features live performances by a new band on a daily basis. Tantra at the Park Hotel is the place to go if clubbing is more your scene.

Head to the Maidan for a breath of fresh air. This amazingly huge and green urban space is Kolkata’s lifeline. Right next door is the Victoria Memorial, the city’s most popular emblem. Raj Bhavan is another magnificent colonial-era building. North Kolkata was the bastion of the zamindar sahibs. A walk through its bylanes gives a glimpse into the decadent culture which was the hallmark of Kolkata in the 19th century. Even now, one can visit the old family havelis of Kolkata’s wealthy class. A little outside the city is located the Kali Bari, the home of the patron deity of Kolkata.

A boat ride down the Hooghly is an ideal way to welcome the sunset. Once in Bengal, how can you not sample the local macher jhol and the puchkas? Aehali at The Peerless Inn and Oh! Calcutta are the best places to sample the local cuisine. The lover’s of street food should head to New Market. Take back home the sandesh, rasogulla and misihti doi from Mithai (Park Circus) and Putiram (College Square).

Kolkata’s intellectual culture is best experienced at College Street. A number of little shops line its sides and you can find hard-to-find and out-of-print books here. For those looking to spend the New Year in solitude, head to the Sunderbans or the religious Bishnupur.

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